Flexible shaft driven tree trimmer powered by a motor towed by the operator



S. P. LAGANT FLEXIBLE SHAFT DRIVEN TREE TRIMMER POWERED BY A MOTOR TOWED BY THE OPERATOR Oct. 20, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 Filed May 11, 1950 T m R m M m m w m t Oct. 20, 1953 s. P. LAGANT 2, 55,957

FLEXIBLE SHAFT DRIVEN TREE TRIMMER POWERED BY A MOTOR TOWED BY THE OPERATOR Filed May 11, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Si/as P. Logan! INVENTOR.

Oct. 20, 1953 Filed May 11, 1950 Fig- 4 S. P. LAGANT FLEXIBLE SHAFT DRIVEN TREE TRIMMER POWERED BY A MOTOR TOWED BY THE OPERATOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig 5 Fig.7

i 4 Va 94 3 5 //2 1/4 4 E? .90 3/ 5/ i 4 1i l02 ro 8 1 x E b "a 1 \i E 72 x /24 s w I28 =21? V '1 '34 f E 66 lh I30 7 [/8 I22 on E Silas P. Logan! INVENTOR.

Patented Oct. 20, 1953 FLEXIBLE SHAFT DRIVEN TREE TRIMMER POWERED BY A. MOTOR TOWED BY THE OPERATOR Silas P. Lagant, Pocahontas, Ill.

Application May 11, 1950, Serial No. 161,333

6 Claims.

This invention relates generally to power driven tools and more particularly to apparatus for trimming trees.

A primary object of the invention is to provide means whereby an operator can trail a small power plant with him as he moves around a tree, the apparatus including an extensible pole upon the upper end of which is a rotary saw or like tool driven by said power plant, the operators hand being free to manipulate the said pole as the operator moves around. the tree.

Another object of this invention is to provide specific means whereby a carriage for the above mentioned power plantis made connectible to the operator, so that by movement of the operators body the carriage can be pushed and pulled and turned in any desired direction, all without the employment of the operators hands.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a carriage for the power plant of a tree trimming apparatus, which is provided with retractible and extendable legs, as well as a groundcontacting caster wheel, so that the carriage will remain upright when it is detached from the operator.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved harness means for securing a carriage of the type mentioned above to an operator, and to provide improved extensible mast or pole and telescoping drive elements, whereby the device can be adjusted for use under varying conditions.

A. last object to be mentioned specifically is to provide a tree trimming apparatus which is relatively inexpensive and practicable to manufacture, which is simple, safe and convenient to use, and which will give generally efficient and durable service.

With these objects definitely in View, this invention resides to certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangementof elements and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail in the specification, particularly pointedout in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a material part of this application, and in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view of the apparatus in operation, a portion of the tool assembly being broken away to conserve space;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 22 in Figure l;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus, the tool assembly being shown fragmentarily and positioned as stored on top of the carriage when not in use;

Figure 4 is an elevational view of the tool assembly in partially extended position;

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 in Figure 4;

Figures 6 and 7 are similar fragmentary vertical sectional views taken on the corresponding lines fi-5 and l-l in Figure 4;

Figure 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 83 in Figure 4 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the means used for extending and collapsing the pole elements; and

Figure 10 is a view in perspective of the waistband, the View including, in dash lines, representations of the handle bars upon which the waistband is supported.

Similar characters of reference designate similar or identical elements and portions through out the specification and throughout the diiierent views in the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, this invention includes a carriage having a rigid frame it which is preferably constructed from tubular stock, and a platform i2 is provided on the frame to support a power plant generaly indicated by the numeral M and ordinarily including a gasoline engine which is diagrammatically represented. The frame includes a depending post 56 upon which is mounted a caster it having a ground-contacting wheel at which will preferably be pneumatic tired. The frame also includes extending arm portions 2% upwardly offset from the main portion ii) of the frame by vertical frame portions 22. The frame also includes a pair of laterally disposed and preferably downwardly diverging legs having groun -contacting extensible feet 28 secured in adjusted positions by set screws 39, the shank portions of the feet 28 being telescopically mounted within the legs 26 which are hollow. A complement of braces 32 are used to keep the frame and the portions thereof rigid and a pair of handle bars 34 extend in substantially parallel relation from the outer ends of the bar members 2 A. waistband comprising a substantially semicircular portion Eit, constructed of relatively inflexible material, and pairs of flexible straps i2, is used to support the handle bar it of the carriage upon the waist portion of an operator. If

reference be had to Figure 10, it will be noted that the semi-circular portion 3% is curved transversely thereof to fit the waist of the operator more comfortably. A pair of trunnions 38 are rigidly secured in opposing relation on the exterior of the semi-circular portion 36, these trunnions extending through apertured portions of the handle bars 3 where said handle bars join the frame of the carriage, the trunnions being terminally threaded to receive clamping nuts 49.

The power plant I4 drives a flexible cable M which is operatively connected, as will be described hereinafter, with a tool assembly 46, and it will be noted that "the tool assembly d5 may be supported upon a hook 48 and a simple rack as which are rigidly secured to the bar members 2d, the inoperative positioning of the tool assembly being illustrated in dash lines. in Figure :1 and again in Figure 3.

The tool assembly 45, illustrated in detail in Figures 4-9, includes a driving head 52 rig-idly connected to the end of the flexible cable 44, this driving head being received in a socket member 54 rotatably mounted between bearings 53 Within a cylindrical casing 58, which is rigidly secured, as by means 50f the nut Ell, to the nonrotating armor 62 of theifiexible :cable 34. The extensiblemast or pole Of the tool assembly-4B includes the outer telescoping tubular element 66 and the inner tubular telescoping element 58, both of which are of inflexible material, and the outer element 66 is provided with attachment flanges 64 which are clamped between one of the bearings 56 and an end wall of the casing 58. The outer element 36 has rigidly secured thereon a longitudinally extending keyway i2 which receives an elongated key I9 which is rigidly secured longitudinally of the inner pole element .68.

An elongated tubular outer drive element 74 isrigidly secured at one end to the socket member 54, the bore of the drive element "It being non-circular in cross-section, as best illustrated at 16 in Figure 7, to receive an inner elongated drive element I8 which terminates in a driving head 86 having an enlargement '82 .rotatably mounted within the neckportion 84 of a housing E6, the neck portion and the outer end of the inner pole element '68 having opposing attachment flanges 88, whereby the housing 85 is mounted on the said outer .end of the inner pole elementt A socket member 991s provided on one end of a short shaft '92 rotatably mounted in the housing 3%, and abeveled gear 9 is rigidly secured to the outer end of the shaft .92. A coacting beveled gear 98 is rigidly secured to a seeondshort shaft 93 which .is mounted atright angles to the shaft 52 and in the housing 8.5, this second shaft 98 having a rotary saw I'ii'fi, or a similar tool, removably mounted thereon.

Means for extending and collapsing the tool assembly 56 will next be described. An elongated rack 982 is rigidly secured exteriorly of the inner pole element I63, as best illustrated at I'M in Figure 5, and rack guides we are rigidly secured to the outer pole element 66., as will be clearly understood from a consideration of Figure-B (-SheetZ). The rack IE2 has spacedapertures .I 08 to receive the teeth of a pinion IIii, this pinion being carried by a .reel H2 .rotatably mounted on brackets I'M carried by an outer end portion of the outer pole element 66. cable H6 is wound upon the reel .I I2 and upon a second reel H8 which is rotatably mounted upon a spindle assembly 'I2'Iilrigid1y secured to an end portion of the outer pole element 66 ad- J'acent to the casing '58. It should be particularly noted that the spindle assembly I20 in- .cludes alfixed plate I22 and the reel H8 is provided with alocking plunger 1215 which is sele'c tively insertable terminally into a plurality of radially spaced apertures I26, one of which is shown in Figure 7, the plunger I 25 being actuated by a rocker I28 and a push button I30, the push button extending to the outer face of the cable guard plate I32 of the reel H8. The plunger I2i is biased into engagement with the apertures 126 by a spring N4. 7

The operation .of this invention will .be clearly understood from a consideration of the fore- ;going description of the mechanical details thereof, taken in connection with the above recited objects and the drawings. In recapitu- Iation, it "will be iclear that the power plant M will provide motivation of the flexible cable it and the .power is transmitted thence to the outer drive element 14 and the inner drive element I8, so that the saw Iilii or similar tool will be operated. It will be clear that the inner drive element 78 can move longitudinally with refer- .ence to the outer drive element it and the inner and outer vpole elements 63 and 6 8 prevent/rel ative rotation of the housing 86 and the casing 58, While allowing extension and collapsing of the tool as required by the operator. It will also be clear that depression of the button I38 will allow the reel H8 to be turned, thus activating the pinion III] and therack [02 so that the inner pole element 6.3 is moved relative to the outer pole element 66 as desired, release of the button I36 allowing the spring I34 to lock the plunger I24 on the fixed plate I22 and preventing inadvertent collapsing of the tool assembly 55-. As to the operation of the carriage,

it is believed no further explanationis required,

it being clear that when the waistband is removed from the operator, the adjustable feet 28 will support the carriage against tipping. Other minor details of operation will be clear to any one skilled .in thelart to which this invention appertains and iurther description would appear unnecessary. I

Having described the invention, what is claimed as'new. is:

1. For use in an apparatus for trimming trees a carriage comprising a single caster wheel and an extending portion, a harness secured on said portion and adapted to be .fastened on the body of an operator, whereby the carriage can be made to trail theiop'eratonsaid har'nesscomprising a waistband including a substantially semicircular portion, flex'ible straps secured to the ends of the semi-circular portion and a pair of trunnions .onrsaid semi-circular portion engaging said extending portion. 7 .2. In apparatus for trimming trees comprising a carriage having a single caster wheel and an extending portion, .a harness secured on said portion and adapted to be fastened on the body of an operator, whereby the carriage can be made to trail the operator, said harness. comprising a waistband including -'a substantially semi-circular portion, .fiex'ible straps secured to the ends of .the semi-circular portion, a pair of trunnions on said semi-circular portion engaging said extending portion, a motor on said carriage, .a flexible cabledriven by said motor, and a t'reetrimm'ing "tool operatively connected with said cable. 7

3. In apparatus for trimming trees comprising a carriage having a single caster wheel and an extending portion, a harness secured on said portion and adapted tofbe fast'ened on the body of "an operator, whereby the be made -t0't'1' ai1'th operator, a motor on saidcar riage, a flexible cable driven by said motor, and

' a tree trimming tool operatively connected with said cable comprising outer and inner telescoping pole elements having corresponding outer and inner telescoping drive elements rotatively mounted in said pole elements, the outer drive element being connected to said cable, a housing on the outer end of the inner pole element, a rotary tool operatively mounted on said housing and connected with said inner drive element, and means to extend and collapse said pole and drive elements.

4. In apparatus for trimming trees having a carriage adapted to be fastened on the body of an operator, whereby the carriage can be made to trail the operator, a motor on said carriage, and a flexible cable driven by said motor, a tree trimming tool operatively connected with said cable comprising outer and inner telescoping pole elements having corresponding outer and inner telescoping drive elements rotatively mounted in said pole elements, the outer drive element being connected to said cable, a housing on the outer end of the inner pole element, a rotary tool operatively mounted on said housing and connected with said inner drive element, a key fixed on one of said pole elements, a coacting keyway on the other of said pole elements, a rack fixed on said inner telescoping element and extending over the outer surface of said outer telescoping pole element, a guide on said outer element for said rack, a pinion mounted on said outer pole element and operatively engaged with said rack and means to drive said pinion.

5. In apparatus for trimming trees having a carriage, a harness secured on said carriage and adapted to be fastened on the body of an operator, whereby the carriage can be made to trail the operator, a motor on said carriage, and a flexible cable driven by said motor, a tree trimming tool operatively connected with said cable comprising outer and inner telescoping pole elements having corresponding outer and inner telescoping drive elements rotatively mounted in said pole elements, the outer drive element being connected to said cable, a housing on the outer end of the inner pole element, a rotary tool operatively mounted on said housing and connected with said inner drive element, means for inhibiting relative rotation between said inner and outer 5 telescoping pole elements, a rack rigidly secured to the inner pole element and extending in sliding engagement with the outer surface of said outer pole element, a guideway on said outer pole element for said rack, a pinion mounted on said outer pole element in driving engagement with said rack, and driving means associated with said pll'll0n.

6. In apparatus for trimming trees having a carriage having an extending portion, a harness secured on said extending portion and adapted to be fastened on the body of an operator, whereby the carriage can be made to trail the operator, a motor mounted on said carriage, and a flexible cable driven by said motor, a tree trimming tool operatively connected with said cable comprising outer and inner telescoping pole elements having corresponding outer and inner telescoping drive elements rotatively mounted in said pole elements, the outer drive element being connected to said cable, a housing on the outer end of the inner pole element, a rotary tool operatively mounted on said housing and connected with said inner drive element, means for inhibiting relative rotation between said inner and outer telescoping pole elements, a rack rigidly secured to the inner pole element and extending in sliding engagement with the outer surface of said outer pole element, a guideway on said outer pole element for said rack, a pinion mounted on said outer pole element in driving engagement with said rack, a hand operated reel mounted on the base of said outer telescoping pole element, a reel secured on said pinion, a flexible driving element operatively connecting said reels, a safety locking plunger in said hand operated reel, said plunger being biased to locking position, and a release button extending to the outer face of said reel.

Sll-AS P. LAGANT.

40 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 673,105 Young Apr. 30, 1901 1,520,330 Chinn Dec. 23, 1924 1,602,357 Georgelis Oct. 5, 1926 2,490,255 Chase Dec. 6, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 0 Number Country Date 255,007 Great Britain July 15, 1926 

